Through My Oppression - I Find Liberation!

"THROUGH MY OPPRESSION - I FIND LIBERATION!"

TAKING THE TRAIN 40 STOPS FROM LARCHMONT TO HARRISON.

THE TRAIN RIDE TAKES 5 SECONDS AND HAS TRAVELED 1000 MILES.

I GET INTO A CAB AND THE TAXI DOOR SWINGS OPEN.

 SAILING IN A SLOOP THAT IS COMING ABOUT.

THE CAB DRIVER RUSHES ME TO THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL.

I WALK INTO THE WAITING ROOM.

THE FRONT DOOR AUTOMATICALLY, SLIDES OPEN, THEN SHUTS AGAIN.

I TAKE A SEAT.

WAITING TO SEE A DOCTOR.

IT'S MORE FRUSTRATING THAN BANGING WOODEN SQUARE PEGS IN ROUND HOLES.

THE PSYCHIATRIST ON CALL DOESN'T SEE ME UNTIL 2 A.M.

THERE ARE NO BEDS AVAILABLE.

I MUST BE TRANSFERED TO A STATE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE.

THE AMBULANCE GETS A FLAT.

THE DRIVER MUST CHANGE THE TIRE.

WE ROLL UP TO ROCKLAND STATE HOSPITAL AT DUSK.

THE ATTENDANTS ARE WAITING.

I AM BROUGHT UP TO THE 5TH FLOOR ON A STRETCHER BY ELEVATOR.

THE DOCTOR TAKES NOTES AND A MALE NURSE GIVES ME A PHYSICAL.

I AM TAKEN TO A WARD WHERE MY BELT AND WATCH ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.

I LOSE ALL SENSE OF TIME OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND AM PUT IN A LOCKED WARD.

I HAVE A ROOMATE WHO SHOUTS, CURSING, WHEN ANGRY.

WE ARE AWOKEN AT 5:00 EVERY MORNING AND ARE EXPECTED TO STAY OUT OF OUR ROOMS.

WE ARE LEFT TO ROAM THE HALLWAYS ALL DAY.

IT'S MANDATORY ATTENDANCE AT THE MORNING AND EVENING GROUP MEETINGS.

WE GET 45 MINUTES TO EAT THE CONSTIPATING FOOD.

I AM LOADED UP ON A HIGH DOSE OF PSYCHOTROPICS AND INJECTED WITH PHINTHIOZENES.

I FEEL OVER MEDICATED AND HAVE DIFFICULTY SLEEPING.

THEN, I HAVE DIFFICULTY WAKING UP.

THE DOCTORS ARE ALWAYS ASKING ME WHAT TIME IT IS AND THE DAY OF THE WEEK.

I HAVE MORE SEVERE PROBLEMS IN THE HOSPITAL THAN I DID ON THE OUTSIDE.

THE PEER ADVOCATES THEY SEND IN HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH ME.

I FIND THEM TO BE RELIGIOUS FANATICS.

THE BIGGEST HEADACHE I HAVE IS THE TWO MALE BATHROOMS.

THERE IS FECES ON THE WALLS AND URINE ON THE FLOOR.

MY NIGHTLY TRIPS TO THE RESTROOMS ARE TAKEN IN HOSPITAL SLIPPERS.

URINE DRENCHES MY FEET THROUGH THESE RUBBER SLIPPERS.

MY SHOES CAN'T BE TIED IN MY DARK ROOM.

I LEAVE THE LIGHTS OFF UNTIL I AM ALLOWED TO TURN THEM BACK ON AT 5 A.M.

BECAUSE I HAVE NO CLOTHES EXCEPT THE ONES I CAME IN WITH, I MUST WEAR A GOWN.

THE GOWNS ARE HARD FOR ME TO PUT ON AND TAKE OFF.

MOST OF THE OTHER PATIENTS ARE IN THE SAME BOAT THAT I AM.

EACH PATIENT HANDLES THEIR HARDSHIPS DIFFERENTLY.

SOME GET ANGRY, WHILE OTHERS GROW MORE DISTURBED.

BUT, MOST OF US ARE DRUGGED OUT ZOMBIES.

HOSPITALS ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE THE PATIENTS BETTER, NOT WORSE.

THE EXPERIENCE CAUSES PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE!

IN THE LONG RUN ONE IS RUINED FOR LIFE BY THE HELP THEY RECIEVE.

THE WORLD'S MOST MISUNDERSTOOD CITIZENS ARE THE MENTALLY ILL.

PLEASE GOD - GET ME OUT OF THIS HELL HOLE!

BY A CONSUMER NAMED JONATHAN BILLET-LATE ONE NIGHT.